Dispensing container having a rotary closure cap



June 13, 1967 R. c. ALLEN 3,325,065

' DISPENSING CONTAINER HAVING A ROTARY CLOSURE CAP Filed Oct. 22, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 35 I2 r/// IQ 1:1 3 6O i 22 |8 38 A 2 3 INVENTOR 54 RICHARD c. ALLEN ATTORNEYS R. c. ALLEN 3,325,066

DISPENSING CONTAINER HAVING A ROTARY CLOSURE CAP June 13, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 22, 1965 INVENTOR RICHARD C. ALLEN I m R K m-w ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,325,066 DISPENSING CONTAINER HAVING A ROTARY CLOSURE CAP Richard C. Allen, Glen Ellyn, 11]., assignor to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Oct. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 501,256 4 Claims. (Cl. 222545) This invention relates to a novel dispensing container in which means are provided for preventing the rotation of one Of a pair of caps of the closure relative to the container, and further means are provided for limiting the relative rotation of the pair of caps relative to each other between a position in which dispensing openings of the caps are in registration and another position in which the dispensing openings are not in registration.

It is conventional to form dispensing closures which include a pair of caps telescoped relative to each other and to secure such closures to the neck or finish of containers. One of the caps, generally an innermost cap, is prevented from rotating relative to the container while a second and generally outermost cap is mounted for rotation relative to both the innermost cap and the neck of the container.

The inner cap is secured to the neck of the container in a variety of difierent Ways, such as the internal ribs in the container neck received in grooves in a peripheral skirt of the innermost cap. It is also conventional to frictionally lock the innermost cap to the neck of the container by a press-fit connection, or to threadably secure the inner cap to the neck of the container. In dispensing closures of the type in which the inner cap does not include a peripheral skirt, the .inner cap can be easily secured to the lip of a conventional container and it is common to provide such a lip with projections or a roughened surface to prevent the rotation thereof relative to the neck of the container.

In conventional dispensing closures of the type described many shortcomings are apparent, such as the tendency of the product packaged in a container to inadvertently leak outwardly of the closure in the closed position thereof. In addition, it has been found quite diflicult to assemble the three components in a rapid manner whereby prouction costs would be materially decreased. It is, therefore, a primary object of this invention to provide a novel container and dispensing closure combination which overcomes the obove and many other disadvantages inherent in prior art structures by the provision of novel means for retaining inner and outer caps of a dispensing closure in preassembled relationship prior to the application of the assembled caps to a container, and to provide novel means for interlocking an innermost one of the caps to a container neck and limiting the rotation of an outer cap between dispensing and non-dispensing positions of the dispensing closure.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel dispensing closure and container of the type immediately above-described in which each of the caps includes dispensing openings and peripheral skirts, the container having a body terminating in a neck, the skirts being telescoped relative to the neck, at least a single projection on the neck of the container, at least a single slot in the peripheral skirt of the inner cap, and the projection being received in the slot whereby rotation of the inner cap relative to the container is prevented.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel dispensing closure and container constructed in the manner just described in which the inner cap includes an end panel, a plurality of keys projecting radially beyond and forming extensions of the end panel, and the peripheral skirt of the outer cap being provided with a radially inwardly directed circumferential bead for cooperating with keys to maintain the inner and outer caps of the dispensing closure in assembled relationship prior to the assembly thereof with the container neck.

With the above, and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings:

In the darwings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary top perspective view of a novel dispensing container constructed in accordance with this invention, and illustrates a dispensing closure secured to a neck of the container.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along line 22 of FIGURE 3, and illustrates a pair of caps forming the dispensing closure in a non-dispensing position thereof with dispensing openings in end panels of the caps being misaligned.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational View with parts broken away for clarity, and more clearly illustrates the non-dispensing position of the caps and the interlocking securement of an innermost of the caps to a neck of the container.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line 4-4 of FIGURE 3, and more clearly illustrates the interlocking securement of the innermost cap to the container neck.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line 5-5 of FIGURE 3, and additionally illustrates the interlocking securement of the container neck and the innermost cap, and further illustrates internested keys for limiting the rotation of the caps between dispensing and non-dispensing positions thereof.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary reduced sectional view taken generally along line 2-2 of FIGURE 3, and illustrates the dispensing closure in the dispensing position thereof with the dispensing openings being in alignment.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken generally along line 7-7 of FIGURE 6, and more clearly illustrates the dispensing position of the dispensing closure with the dispensing openings in alignment.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the dispensing container, and illustrates the containerbody and the caps prior to being assembled.

A novel dispensing container constructed in accordance with this invention is shown in the drawings, and is generally referred to by the reference numeral 10. The dispensing container 10 comprises a dispensing closure 11 which includes an outermost cap 12 and an innermost cap 13 which is secured to a container 14 in a manner to be describedmore fully hereafter. The caps 12 and 13 and the container 14 are preferably constructed from plastic material, such as linear polyethylene or similar thermoplastic material. The caps 12 and 13 are each preferably constructed by a conventional injection molding process while the container 14 is preferably blow-molded in a conventional manner.

The container 14 comprises a container body 15 which is substantially rectangular in transverse section. The container body 15 is joined by an integral shoulder 16 to an upstanding neck or finish 17, The neck 17 terminates in an uppermost radially outwardly directed sealing edge 18 defining a mouth (unnumbered) of the container 14.

The neck 17 of the container 14 includes an inner circumferential surface (unnumbered) and an outer circumferential surface 21. A plurality of identical lugs, projection or protuberances 22 are formed on the exterior of the neck 17, and each projection 22 is directed radially outwardly beyond the exterior circumferential surface 21, as is best illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 8 of the drawings.

There are only three such projections 22 (FIGURE 8) and each of the projections 22 terminates short of the upper edge 18 and merges with a radially outwardly directed circumferential bead 23. The projections are equal- 1y spaced from the axis of the container body and terminate in upwardly converging surfaces 29.

The inner cap 13 of the dispensing closure 11 comprises an end panel having a plurality of identically circumferentially spaced dispensing openings 36. There are eight such dispensing openings 36 in the end panel 35 of the inner cap 13, and each dispensing opening 36 is spaced an identical distance from the axis of the inner cap 13. More or less than the number of dispensing openings 36 can, of course, be provided in the inner cap 13 in accordance with this invention.

The end panel 35 of the inner cap 13 is defined by an upper surface 37 (FIGURES 3 and 8) and a lower surface 38. The end panel 35 merges with an integral depending peripheral skirt 40 having interior and exterior circumferential surfaces 39, 41 respectively. The peripheral skirt 40 is provided with a plurality of equally circumferentially spaced identical slots 42 which pass completely radially through the peripheral skirt 40 and through a terminal edge 43 thereof. The slots 42 terminate at the lower surface 38 of the end panel 35, as is best illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 8 of the drawings. The slots 42 set off a plurality of identical axially depending members 44 having lowermost convex end surfaces 49.

A plurality of identical keys 45 project radially outwardly beyond the end panel 35 and form continuations thereof. Each of the keys 45 is substantially wider than and in axial alignment with an associated one of the slots 42. Each key includes an upper surface (unnumbered) forming a continuation of the surface 37 of the end panel 35 and a lower surface (unnumbered) forming a continuation of the surface 38. Each of the keys 45 terminates in a radial outermost surface 46.

The outer cap 12 of the dispensing closure 11 includes an end wall having a plurality of equally spaced dispensing openings 51. There are eight such dispensing openings 51 in the end wall or panel and each dispensing opening 51 is spaced from the axis of the outer cap 12 a distance identical to the spacing of the dispensing openings 36 from the axis of the inner cap 13. The end panel 50 is integrally joined to 21 depending peripheral skirt 52 having an exteriorly ribbed gripping portion (unnumbered) and an interior surface or Wall 53. The skirt 52 terminates in an inwardly directed circumferential looking rib 54 (FIGURES 3, 4, 7 and 8) which is received beneath the bead 23 of the container 14 to secure the dispensing closure 11 to the neck 17 in a conventional manner.

A plurality of radially inwardly directed identical keys 55 form an integral portion of the skirt 52 and project beyond the internal surface 53, as is best illustrated in FIGURES 3, 5, and 8 of the drawings. Thereare four such projecting keys 55 and each key includes oppositely directed abutment surfaces (unnumbered) between which lies an associated keyway 58. The keys 55 project downwardly from the end panel 50 and terminates slightly short of a radially inwardly directed circumferential bead 60.

The dispensing closure 11 is assembled by telescoping the cap 12 and the cap 13 relative to each other. During this telescoping of the caps 12 and 13, the keys 45 and the bead of the cap 12 deflect or deform slightly to effect the passage of the keys 45 into the keyways 58. After the keys 45 enter the keyways 58 the bead 60 rebounds and the keys 45 are held captive between the bead 60 and the end panel 50.

After the caps 12 and 13 have been assembled in the manner just described, the dispensing closure 11 is telescoped upon the neck 17 of the container 14 after the latter has been filled with a desirable dispensible product,

such as powder, salt, etc. During this telescopic assembly, the lugs 22 on the container neck 17 are received in associated ones of the slots 42 with the converging surfaces 29 serving as locating means during this assembly. The bead 54 is snap-fit beneath the head 23 of the container 14, thus securing the caps to the container, The cap 12 is free to rotate but the cap 13 is held immovable by the interlocking engagement between the protuberances 22 and the slots 42 of the innermost cap 13.

Assuming the dispensing container is in the non-dispensing position thereof, i.e., with the dispensing openings 36, 51 misaligned (FIGURES 2 1), the outer cap 12 of the dispensing closure 11 is rotated from the position illustrated in FIGURE 2 to the position illustrated in FIG- URE 6 at which time the keys 45 rotate in the keyways 58 of the cap 12 until contact is established between the keys 45 and an associated one of the keys 55. When contact is thus established the dispensing openings 36, 5]. are in alignment and the dispensing container is inverted to dispense a product outwardly of the container body 15 through the aligned openings 36, 51 along a flow path graphically illustrated by the headed unnumbered arrows of FIGURE 7. Upon the completion of the dispensing operation, the outer cap 12 is rotated from the position shown in FIGURES 6 and 7 to the position illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3 at which time the keys 45, 55 again contact each other when the dispensing openings are no longer in alignment.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that novel and advantageous provision has been made for carrying out the desired end. However, attention is directed to the fact that variations may be made in the example dispensing closure and container without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A dispensing container comprising a container body having a bottom wall and a neck, a plurality of radially outwardly directed locating members on said neck, an

inner cap having an end panel and a depending peripheral skirt, an outer cap having an end panel and a depending peripheral skirt, the peripheral skirt of said inner cap being in external telescopic relationship relative to said container neck, the peripheral skirt of said outer cap being in external telescopic relationship relative to the peripheral skirt of said inner cap, means securing said outer cap to said container neck for rotational movement of said outer cap relative to said inner cap and said container neck, dispensing openings in the end panels of each of said inner and outer caps, said openings being aligned in a first position thereof and being misaligned in a second position thereof at respective first and second positions of said caps, means for limiting the rotation of said caps between the first and second positions thereof, said rotation limiting means being a plurality of keys carried by said caps, the keys of said inner cap being directed radially outwardly beyond the peripheral skirt thereof and being disposed in the plane of said inner cap end panel, means for locating said inner cap relative to said container neck, said securing means being a plurality of slots formed in said peripheral skirt of said inner cap, said slots opening completely radially through said inner cap peripheral skirt and axially extending from said inner cap end panel through a terminal edge of said inner cap peripheral skirt, selective ones of said slots receiving associated ones of said locating members whereby said inner cap and container neck are in fixed relationship to each other, said outer cap including a radially inwardly directed circumferential bead, and the keys of said inner cap being adapted to temporarily deform upon relative telescopic movement between said caps to secure the caps to each other with the keys of the inner cap being disposed between the end panel of said outer cap and said circumferential bead.

2. The dispensing container as defined in claim 1 wherein said locating members are each of a hollow construction closed at axially uppermost end portions thereof by a top wall, and each of said top walls has wall portions diverging toward said bottom wall whereby said inner cap is readily positionable upon said container neck.

3. The dispensing container as defined in claim 1 wherein the slots of the inner cap open completely radially and axially dowwardly through said inner cap peripheral skirt, said slots define a plurality of axially downwardly directed lugs, and each lug has a convexly rounded terminal edge.

4. The dispensing container as defined in claim 1 wherein said neck terminates in a radially inwardly di- References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Lines 222-542 Barnby 222548 Baker 222548 X Gronemeyer 222548 X Dreps 222548 Castelli 222-545 Joffe 222545 Klygis 22254'5 Knight 222548 X rected flange, and said flange is in sealing engagement 1 WALTER SOBIN Pfimary Examiner with the end panel of said inner cap. 

1. A DISPENSING CONTAINER COMPRISING A CONTAINER BODY HAVING A BOTTOM WALL AND A NECK, A PLURALITY OF RADIALLY OUTWARDLY DIRECTED LOCATING MEMBERS ON SAID NECK, AN INNER CAP HAVING AN END PANEL AND A DEPENDING PERIPHERAL SKIRT, AN OUTER CAP HAVING AN END PANEL AND A DEPENDING PERIPHERAL SKIRT, THE PERIPHERAL SKIRT OF SAID INNER CAP BEING IN EXTERNAL TELESCOPIC RELATIONSHIP RELATIVE TO SAID CONTAINER NECK, THE PERIPHERAL SKIRT OF SAID OUTER CAP BEING IN EXTERNAL TELESCOPIC RELATIONSHIP RELATIVE TO THE PERIPHERAL SKIRT OF SAID INNER CAP, MEANS SECURING SAID OUTER CAP TO SAID CONTAINER NECK FOR ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT OF SAID OUTER CAP RELATIVE TO SAID INNER CAP AND SAID CONTAINER NECK, DISPENSING OPENINGS IN THE END PANELS OF EACH OF SAID INNER AND OUTER CAPS, SAID OPENINGS BEING ALIGNED IN A FIRST POSITION THEREOF AND BEING MISALIGNED IN A SECTIONS OF SAID CAPS, MEANS FOR LIMITING THE ROTATION OF SAID CAPS BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS THEREOF, SAID CAPS BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS THEREOF, SAID ROTATION LIMITING MEANS BEING A PLURALITY OF KEYS CARRIED BY SAID CAPS, THE KEYS OF SAID INNER CAP BEING DIRECTED RADIALLY OUTWARDLY BEYOND THE PERIPHERAL SKIRT THEREOF AND BEING DISPOSED IN THE PLANE OF SAID INNER CAP END PANEL, MEANS FOR LOCATING SAID INNER CAP RELATIVE TO SAID CONTAINER NECK, SAID SECURING MEANS BEING A PLURALITY OF SLOTS FORMED IN SAID PERIPHERAL SKIRT OF SAID INNER CAP, SAID SLOTS OPENING COMPLETELY RADIALLY THROUGH SAID INNER CAP PERIPHERAL SKIRT AND AXIALLY EXTENDING FROM SAID INNER CAP END PANEL THROUGH A TERMINAL EDGE OF SAID INNER CAP PERIPHERAL SKIRT, SELECTIVE ONES OF SAID SLOTS RECEIVING ASSOCIATED ONES OF SAID LOCATING MEMBERS WHEREBY SAID INNER CAP AND CONTAINER NECK ARE IN FIXED RELATIONSHIP TO EACH OTHER, SAID OUTER CAP INCLUDING A RADIALLY INWARDLY DIRECTED CIRCUMFERENTIAL BEAD, AND THE KEYS OF SAID INNER CAP BEING ADAPTED TO TEMPORARILY DEFORM UPON RELATIVE TELESCOPIC MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID CAPS TO SECURE THE CAPS TO EACH OTHER WITH THE KEYS OF THE INNER CAP BEING DISPOSED BETWEEN THE END PANEL OF SAID OUTER CAP AND SAID CIRCUMFERENTIAL BEAD. 